2 IDF soldiers killed by collapsing crane due to severe weather in Gaza

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in an accident in the Gaza Strip late last night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday morning. 

The incident was attributed to stormy weather in the eastern Mediterranean, which caused a crane to collapse on the group of soldiers.

One of the soldiers killed in the accident was Sgt. First Class (res.) Nadav Cohen, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion, from Beit Hanan. 

The IDF later released the name of the second soldier, Nachman Refael Ben Ami, 20, from Eilat, after his family had been contacted. 

Of the other eight wounded soldiers, one was listed in serious condition and has been evacuated to a hospital for treatment. 

According to the initial IDF probe, the crane was part of ongoing work to build security posts in the buffer zone between the Israeli communities of the Gaza Envelope and Gaza City. 

The Golani Brigade soldiers have remained in Gaza, despite the ceasefire, to help with security in the Gaza Strip, and to prevent the passage of weapons by Hamas into the northern Gaza Strip. 

According to reports in Hebrew media, the incident took place in the buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and Israeli territory, opposite Kfar Aza, in the northern Gaza Strip.

Following the incident and due to harsh weather conditions being predicted over the next few days, it was decided at this stage to remove all the cranes and lifting platforms in the sector. 

While the IDF has maintained a security presence in Gaza during the first phase of the hostage release ceasefire deal, the military has reported several incidents in the past few days. 

On Wednesday, the IDF reported that a group of soldiers in central Gaza fired warning shots at suspects approaching them in a threatening manner. In southern Gaza, IDF troops identified several suspects nearby, posing an imminent threat, and fired warning shots to distance them. When the suspects continued advancing, the troops fired to eliminate the threat.

On Tuesday, several similar incidents were recorded, including one in which a vehicle attempted to move northward outside of the security inspection zone which all vehicles moving northward are required to pass through. An Israeli Air Force (IAF) plane fired a warning shot at the vehicle. 

Also on Tuesday, the Israeli Navy reported several vessels violating security restrictions in the maritime area of the Gaza Strip. After the Navy fired several warning shots, the vessels returned to the shore. 

Additionally, two suspects in the central Gaza Strip approached IDF troops in a threatening manner. After firing distancing shots, the suspects continued to approach the soldiers, who fired on the suspects, hitting at least one. 

The IDF said it is “committed to fully implementing the conditions of the agreement for the return of the hostages. The IDF is prepared for any scenario and will continue to take any necessary actions to thwart any immediate threat to IDF soldiers.” 

The military called on Gaza residents to follow its instructions and avoid approaching troops deployed in the area.